Does It Pain You to Take Cheap Pills?

March 4, 2008 -- New research shows that people who thought they were given
a pricier painkiller reported less
pain than those who believe they took the same drug at a discounted
price.

Researchers from MIT and Duke University tested 82 healthy volunteers in
2006. None of the participants was told of the study's purpose.

All were told they were going to see how well a new FDA-approved painkiller
worked.

The participants were then lightly shocked on their wrists. Half of the
group was given what they were told was the new pill, which cost $2.50. The
other half was given what they were told was the same new drug, but at a
discounted price of $0.10 a pill. No reason was given for the discount.

Both groups were actually given the same placebo pill.

Among the findings:

85% of the participants in the regular-price pill group said they had
reduced pain on average.

Only 61% of the group who thought they were getting the cheaper pill said
their average pain eased.

Mystery of the Placebo

"The placebo effect is one of the most fascinating, least harnessed
forces in the universe," study researcher Dan Ariely, PhD, says in a news
release.